Despite rightward-streaming state and federal political currents, Buncombe County stood out on election night as a small sea of Democratic blue. In several important local races, Democratic candidates toppled Republican incumbents or maintained their positions of power. Here’s a look at some of those key local races, with an analysis of what happened and the consequences going forward.

Endorsements can be a handy tool showing which groups and individuals have publicly thrown their support behind a particular office-seeker. In this post we’ve compiled what was provided by some of the Buncombe County candidates and collected by Xpress.

Republican N.C. House Rep. Nathan Ramsey and Democratic challenger John Ager have a lot in common. They’ve both been longtime residents of Fairview, where they own and operate neighboring farms. But when it comes to the issues facing the N.C. House, they shared opposing viewpoints at an Oct. 9 forum at the Dr. Wesley Grant […]

There wasn’t much tension between Nathan Ramsey and John Ager at the Council of Independent Business Owners’s early-morning debate, Friday, Aug. 29 perhaps because of a personal history. “John’s my neighbor,” said Ramsey. “I’ve known John since I was probably about two years old.” Not only are the two candidates personal acquaintances, both grew up in the […]

With state legislators opting not to vote on redistricting reform this year, local bipartisan supporters rallied in downtown Asheville Aug. 1 to start campaigning on behalf of passing the measure in 2014.

A bill that would both rename the Biltmore campus of the Mountain Area Education Center and honor former state representative and lifelong Asheville resident, Mary Nesbitt, was signed into law yesterday by Gov. Pat McCrory. (Photo of the bill signing courtesy of Sen. Martin Nesbitt’s Facebook page)

Behind-the-scenes negotiations over a lawsuit, a push from Raleigh to force district-based elections for Asheville, and the fate of a parks-and-recreation bill that could save city government millions — all this and more are revealed in emails between Council members, city staff and North Carolina legislators. Recently obtained by Xpress, the documents show a candid […]

Emails obtained by Xpress reveal that some state legislators have asked city of Asheville representatives to drop their lawsuit contesting a state-mandated transfer of the water system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District. The emails also show legislators discussing the fate of legislation that consolidates Asheville and Buncombe County parks-and-recreation services — a move that could save the city $5 million a year. Further, the candid discussions shine a light on a long-rumored proposal that the state may force Asheville to switch to district-based elections.

As Asheville gears up to file a lawsuit against state legislation that gives control of the city’s water system to the Metropolitan Sewage District, some rejected ideas posed by Buncombe County years ago to provide compensation have resurfaced.

About seven years ago, the Regional Water Authority of Asheville, Buncombe and Henderson County fell apart. The creation of what had been an historic agreement involving the three governments, ongoing disputes and frustrations led Asheville officials to end the partnership in 2005. Fast-forward to the March 28 filing of House Bill 488, which transfers the Asheville water system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District.

Tweets, photos and more from the Jan. 4 CIBO “issues” breakfast. Topics focused on issues the North Carolina legislature will face in the coming year, and local school security measures after the Sandy Hook shooting. (Photo of Buncombe County Schools Superintendent Dr. Tony Baldwin by Max Cooper)

The United Way, N.C. Budget and Tax Center and other organizations teamed up Dec. 11 to host a community forum on the economy, state budget, and tax modernization. Here’s a look at the forum via Tweets and photos from attendees, rounded up using Storify.

This post features responses to the Xpress questionnaire from candidates vying to represent N.C. Statehouse District 115, which includes most of eastern Buncombe County from Fairview and Black Mountain to Weaverville. Democrat Susan Wilson is competing with Republican Nathan Ramsey.